The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Perth perfect canvas for the arts
Light and shade, vibrant colours, and a few laughs along the way. Now in its 47th year, Perth Festival of the Arts is ready to present another exciting programme, in various venues from May 17 to 26
Even though its larger counterpart in Edinburgh recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, the fact that Perth Festival of the Arts is only three years away from its 50th edition is still grounds for celebration. The festival’s administrator Sandra Ralston – who has run the event for 22 years – tells how one city inspired the other.
“In 1972 an Edinburgh critic named Conrad Wilson came to Perth and said it was the perfect festival city without a festival,” she said.
“So the Chamber of Commerce decided it was time to organise a festival, which started initially as a classical music and opera festival, and gradually has broadened out.
“Over the last few years we’ve had Van Morrison, Calvin Harris, The Stranglers, The View and The Proclaimers.
“Perth Festival of the Arts is almost unique in Scotland in that it covers all the arts, from dance to drama and music.
“Nowadays, festivals are either rock festivals or jazz festivals or dance festivals, there are very few around that cover the whole range of the Edinburgh aside.
“Also, to have been going for 47 years without a break is quite an achievement.”
This year’s event will run over 10 days in late May and across four venues – the 1200-capacity Perth Concert Hall and the 500-capacity and recently refurbished Perth Theatre, as well as St John’s Kirk and a marquee set up outside the Concert Hall which features displays of contemporary Scottish art.
Among the artists and performers to appear are Ruby Wax, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Scottish Opera, arts,
clarinettist Emma Johnson and English Opera’s version of The Marriage of Figaro.
“This will also be Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra’s ninth visit to the festival,” says Ralston.
“Their first visit was in 1998, so they’re almost like our resident house band now
“This year he’s bringing Marc Almond as his special guest singer.
“A great family concert will be the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, who are famous for their part in the film Brassed Off, and another stunning show will be Elephant Sessions, the recent winners of best album at the Scots Trad Awards for 2017.
“They’re going to be joined by Siobhan Miller, who was Singer of the Year at the awards, and an all-girl band from Orkney called Fara. Another one that I saw while scouting at the Edinburgh
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To have been going for 47 years without a break is quite an achievement
Fringe is An Evening of Eric and Ern, about Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.
“The actors look and behave just like them, it’s a lovely show and I think it will be very popular.”
“The latter play is the sequel of sorts to Eric and Little Ern, a play about Morecambe and Wise’s real lives which actors Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013.
“The new show is songs, sketches and routines that you’ll know and love, alongside some new material which brings to life the Morecambe and Wise Show,” says Ashpitel.
After 21 years Ralston has seen the cycles of a festival’s life, the belttightening in times of recession and the relief of being able to programme more shows again.
“We’ve kept going through it all and we’re still thriving, though,” she says.
“Perth Concert Hall opening in 2005 has made the biggest difference to our programming, otherwise we just try to move with the times and look at a lot of contemporary shows, we want to be as relevant in the future as we have been in the last 47 years.
“Our 50th anniversary is coming up in 2021, so we’re looking to have a very special festival that year.”
www.perthfestival.co.uk